If you look off to the west as you motoring north of Fruitland, you are liable to see a tall neck sticking above a fence bordering the service road. THAT’S Miss C, a real, live camel.
Behind her are static camels, lions, sailors, soldiers, gargoyles, snakes, alligators and anything else that can be fashioned from concrete.
Concrete Castings of Fruitland
Concrete Castings is the brainchild of Clarence Lee Shirrell, who sold the business to his long-time employee Crista Meyer a few years back. He still maintains a presence, acting as tour guide or casting finisher-upper every time I’ve stopped by.
You name it, they’ve got it
There’s something for everyone. In addition to the camel and the concrete figures, there’s a petting zoo with peacocks, goats, chickens and other assorted beasts and birds.
Concrete Castings photo gallery
I shot these photos way back in 2013 and promptly forgot about them. My notes have long gone cold (that’s a fancy way of saying I misplaced them), so I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Click on any image to make it larger, then use your arrow keys to move around.
very cool! But Why no close up of Eve? And is Adam just as revealing????
This one of my families favorite places. My Wife Liza and daughter Nina would ALWAYS have t visit Clarence Lee and all the animals at his out door zoo…the Concrete figures are just aback drop to show of the animals…Ducks and Geese too in the ponds…and great place for kids to spend a little time on the nice afternoon.
I’m worried about that camel. Miss C looks way too skinny. She either needs more food or she’s an elderly or ill camel.
Dorothy, I’m not a camel expert, so I’m not sure when they are considered “elderly.”
The Missourian ran a story in 2011 that said Miss C was seven years old at that time, and weighed “a svelte 1,500 pounds, give or take a pound or two.”
I learned a long time ago not to get involved with discussions about female weight, so I am cautiously backing away from the subject.
🙂 Okay, Ken. Maybe she’s bigger than she looks in that front facing photo. And I’d have to research to find out what a 7 yr old camel is supposed to weigh. But she does look skinny. I had a friend that ran a small circus zoo and his camels were pretty hefty. 😉
heh… this is a pretty funny collection of photos… even for you, Ken
I just shoot ’em, I don’t make ’em.
I am truly blessed by the pictures. I have been looking for Clarence Lee Shirrel. He was my sisters husband. I just found my family so this is exciting.
I’m glad to have been of service. Enjoy.
Sharon Wright:
If you just Google ‘Clarence Lee Shirrel Fruitland Missouri’, there are many articles there to read.
(You’re Welcome)